Track construction.



TRACK CONSTRUGHUN.

APFMCATIUN FILED DEC: 1.4. 9H-

EPmtanfced W0. 26,1918.

El mom/1 :01

Ja am I Clttozmua loosen g and removing the fastening emp oyed f r joining the ails end to end- Soine. if-the fasteniug heretofore employed have been reasonably ec re b tave een ZbaZZw/iom it may comer a Be it known that I, Huen'LEr, aeltizen pnurw r c o of whichthefollowing i a speci- :ficatienr This invention relates to railroad track leons ru tlon and more partic l ly to; an improv d type f ra l-and mean f r jo ng the same in connection with tracks which have to be frequently moved. For example, in logging operations the tracks frequently have to be s ifted it the ne ess y of difficult to remo e a d, replace- .Ot er h been easy of removal but have been open to the objectionthat they did not securely hold the rails, with the result that under the hard usage to which the tracks were subjected the rails would become separated. a

A. fastening for use under the conditions above mentioned must unite the rails securely because, owing to the temporary nature of the tracks, they must conform to the grade of the ground, no attempt being made to provide a carefully graded road-bed. As the present description proceeds it will be seen that the present invention provides a type of track and fastening means therefor particularly adapted for use in the relation indicated, though it is to be understood that it is capable of use in many other relations. For example, when heavy machinery is to be moved, such as a steam shovel for instance, it is customary to lay a track ahead of the shovel upon which it may travel. Only a few sections of track are needed, the track in the rear being taken up and placed in front of the shovel as the shovel proceeds. The present invention will be found of use in such relations as these.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows:

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating two rails joined by means of the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates the rails separated;

Figs 3 is a horizontal section illustrating irsrnrnsrnnnnn;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Appl cation filed D m e 4, 1.9.1?- Serial No. ZQZQ -Q- 'HUGH LEE, OE CAESAR, MISSISSIPPI.

cannon oons rnuorrron.

Patented reuse, ists.

a slightly modified form employing two lreylates instead f on F1g. 4 1s a view of one ofthe plates; and

- Fig,- 0 1s a perspective view of a filling bridge piece hereinafter described.

-Beferring to the drawing 5 and 6 designate the rails of a track of the character vabove indicated. These rails are of channel formation and comprise vertical inner webs l0, horizontal tread flanges 8 and horizontal base'flanges 9. Llhe webs 10 are cut away at their abutting ends? and present shoul ders 11. This results in forming a or pocket 12 at the ends of the rails when the rails are brought together end to end for a bri ge-pla e 13 which is efsuchlength as to overlap he t o re ess d portions o the ralls and fit snugly between the shoulde s 11- T e plate 13 ca ri s uds et daptto eng ge inop n ngs leffo med inth webs 10 While I have illustrated only one stud and only one opening for each rail, it is apparent that these may be duplicated if'desired. The flanges 8 and 9 of the rails are longitudinally grooved at 16 and 17 respect-ively to provide channels in which keyplates 18 may slide. The channels 16 and 17 are of such length that the key-plates 18 may he slid away from the confronting ends of the rails to a point beyond the shoulders 11, at which time it will be possible to place bridge-plate 13 in position or to remove such bridge-plate, but when a key-plate is moved to overlie the bridge plate it is apparent that the bridge plate is held against lateral. movement and the ends of the rails are securely locked together.

It is immaterial Whether one key-plate is employed at each rail joint or whether two of said plates are employed, one for each rail, it being only necessary, in order to secure the desired results, to provide an element which will overlap plate 13 and prevent its lateral movement. To prevent the key-plates 18 from Working end-wise after they have been moved to position to overlap the bridge plates 13, I may if desired, employ filling pieces 19 of such shape and length as to fill the channel 17 and lie within said channel between the inner end of the channel and the inner end of the key-plate.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and efficient means are prosided for accomplishing the objects of the invention, but while the elements shown and described are Well adapted to serve the pur poses for which they areintended, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth but includes within its purview such changes or as fairly come With n the spirit of the appended claims.

'Having described my invention, What I claim is:

1. 'The combination with a pair of rails I of channel formation, of a bridge'plate of such lengthas to overlap the abutting ends of the rails, lugs carried by said bridge plate, said rails being provided with openings for the reception of said lugs and means mounted for longitudinal sliding movement Copies of this patent may be obtained for upon said rails andoutwardlyrof the bridge plate and movable to and from a position v in front of said bridge plate.

2. A'structure as recited in claim 1 embodying means for preventing said longitudinally sliding member from moving end- Wise with respect to the rails.

3; A device of the character described, comprising a pair of rails ofchannel forma tion having open sides and having their ver- -t1ca l portions ad acent their ends recessed to provide pockets, a bridge plate adapted to have a seating in the pockets of adjacent rails when said rails are brought together, interengagmg means between the bridge plates and the rails for preventing longitudinal separation of the rails, longitudinal key-Ways formed in the upper and lower portions of the rails and key-plates movable in said key-ways.

. 4. In a track construction, a pair of rails of channel formation comprising vertical webs and horizontal outwardly projecting 'tread and base flanges, longitudinal keyways formed in the confronting faces of said flanges, a key-plate movable in said key-ways, a bridge plate of such length as to overlap said rails, said rails belng recessed for the reception of said bridge plate and interengaging members between the rails and the bridge plate for preventing endwise separation of the rails, said key plate being movable to and from a position in front of the bridge plate.

5. The combination with a pair of rails HUGH LEE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

